Here are some random thoughts based on some of Neil’s photos I found in the ‘to post one day’ folder.
Let’s start with the Blue Star Diagoras coming into Yialos of an evening. This would be Friday as it comes in during the afternoon on its other visit day, Wednesday. If you’re traveling here and coming via Rhodes, you can catch this boat at 3pm on a Wednesday and around 7pm on a Friday. I say ‘around’ as on a Friday it heads down to Kastelorizo as well, and there is more chance of it being delayed. Having said that, the summertime usually means calmer seas and so a more accurate schedule. If you’re planning on this as your boat to Symi then make sure you land at Rhodes well before 1.30pm on a Wednesday and before 5.30 on a Friday – giving just enough time to taxi to the commercial harbour.
And while we’re on transport, here’s a photo of the sign at the bus stop. The bus runs on the hour every hour between eight (maybe seven) and midnight (maybe 11) I’ve not looked at the summer schedule, but let’s say ‘regularly’ through the day. It goes from Yialos to Horio to Pedi to Horio to Yialos, you can’t get lost. Each journey is €1.50 regardless. There is also the Panormitis bus to take you to Panormitis, and if you want day trip on the island and other bus excursions, visit Symi Tours and ask there.
And, as we are doing travel, if you want to get to the beaches you can take a water taxi. There are several of these on the harbour front serving Nimborio, Again Marina, St Nicholas, Nanou, St George and (I think) Marathunda. You can also get from Pedi to Ag Marina and St George with the two boats in Pedi. Check the boats’ advertising boards for prices and times.
And while you’re in Yialos or just on Symi having a holiday, you can also take the horse and carriage ride around the harbour, the train half way to Nimborio and back, and also take day trips on the day boats such as the Poseidon. There’s plenty to do and that includes car and moped hire, from a couple of places, see the travel agents, and you can also hire boats from by the Nireus for the day. And if all else fails you can always go walking up the hills, down the hills, beyond the village and into the forest (to grandmother’s house under the big oak tree…) and back again.
So, there is plenty to do on Symi during your stay, and that’s on top of the days on the beach, the long lunches by the sea at a taverna, the live music, the concerts and festivals, name days and dinners. Or you can just sit and read and put your feet up, which is what I am going to do now as I finish off Alison Weir’s great book about the Princes in the Tower.
